A nurse is providing teaching to a client who is to undergo a cardiac catheterization. Which of the following findings is expected during the procedure?

A. Place an ice pack over the cast. While this can help reduce swelling and pain, it is a comfort measure, not the priority. Safety assessments must be completed first before implementing non-urgent interventions.
B. Position the casted extremity on a pillow. Elevation is important to reduce swelling, but it follows after ensuring that circulation to the extremity is intact and that there are no signs of vascular compromise.
C. Teach the client to keep the cast clean and dry. Education is essential for long-term cast care, but it is not the first action after cast application. Immediate post-procedural monitoring takes precedence.
D. Palpate the pulse distal to the cast. The nurse should first assess for adequate circulation by checking distal pulses. This helps identify early signs of complications like compartment syndrome or impaired blood flow, making it the highest priority.

A. Turn off oxygen sources. After ensuring the client is safe, the priority is to reduce the risk of fire spreading, and oxygen greatly increases flammability. Turning off oxygen is a critical safety measure to prevent rapid combustion.
B. Put out the fire with an extinguisher. While extinguishing the fire is important, it should only be attempted if safe to do so and after addressing immediate dangers, such as oxygen sources and client safety.
C. Close the fire doors on the unit. This is part of containment under the RACE protocol (Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish), but it is not the first priority after rescue when oxygen is actively feeding the fire.
D. Notify the facility operator. This step corresponds to the "Alarm" phase of RACE and is essential for initiating the emergency response. However, it follows immediately after ensuring client safety and environmental hazard reduction, like turning off oxygen.